Christian Stocker was sworn in as Austria’s new chancellor on Monday, leading a three-party coalition government formed five months after last year’s election. The coalition includes his centre-right People’s Party (ÖVP), the centre-left Social Democrats (SPÖ), and the liberal Neos, who finalized their agreement last week after an earlier attempt failed in January.
SPÖ leader Andreas Babler has been appointed vice-chancellor. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen joked about the lengthy negotiations, the longest in the country’s history.
At 65, Stocker has never served in a national government and was not on the ballot last September. He succeeded former chancellor Karl Nehammer, who resigned in January. A member of parliament since 2019, Stocker was previously the ÖVP’s general secretary.
He emphasizes his commitment to the European Union and criticism of Russia, contrasting sharply with the views of Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ), who came first in the election but remains in opposition after failed coalition talks.
The coalition agreement includes stricter asylum measures, revisions to tenancy laws, and planned benefits cuts, marking the first three-party coalition in Austria since the late 1940s.
